Locking container closure



Feb. 4, 1964 H. w. RIGOR LOCKING CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed May 21, 1962INVENTOR. HERBERT W. Plea/P United States Patent M 7 Glairns. (Ell.215-9) This invention relates to closures for containers and, morespecifically, to caps for medicine bottles and the like incorporating anovel and improved releasable locking device.

Every year several children are killed or made seriously ill fromswallowing poisons and other toxic substances found around the averagehome. Despite numerous national and local campaigns cautioning parentsto keep dangerous substances out of the reach of children, such tragicaccidents still occur.

There have, in the past, been a number of attempts made to solve thissituation by providing locks on medicine chests, making the medicinalsubstances bitter to the taste and providing the bottle with specialclosures that a child cannot open yet which present no problem to anadult user. Of these several approaches to the problem, the latter heldthe most promise; however, unfortunately, the prior art attempts todesign such a closure have met with little, if any, success for severalreasons. To begin with, many of these devices were so complicated andexpensive to manufacture that their use on an ordinary medicine bottle,to say nothing of a less expensive household product, becomeprohibitive. Along this same line, some were so diflicult to operatethat even adults experienced difliculty due to their complexity. Otherunits were capable of being used on either liquid containers or pilldispensers but not both. Still others were bulky or required speciallydesigned containers.

It has not been found in accordance with the teaching of the instantinvention that these and other problems can be completely eliminatedthrough the use of a relatively simple cap-type closure that operates onthe principle of of combination lock yet which is not nearly so complex.The unit is equally Well-suited to liquid or solid material containers.It is quite compact and requires no special bottle.

These useful ends are achieved by providing an inner cap that screwsonto the neck of the container in the usual way and an outer cap thatcovers the inner cap so completely that the latter cannot be disengagedexcept by turning the outer one. The outer cap turns freely on the innerone unless and until they are operatively interconnected by a lockingpin. A freely rotatable ring mounted between the inner and outer capsordinarily separates the registering openings therein that the lockingpin must interconnect before the caps can be turned as a unit. The pinalso functions as the means for moving the ring into the properposition.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a novel and improved locking closure for medicine bottles andthe like.

A second object is the provision of a device of the type described whichis most diificult for a child to operate but which presents no problemwhatsoever to an adult.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a locking closurethat can be molded from any one of several inexpensive plastic materialsat a nominal additional cost over the ordinary bottle cap.

Still another objective is the provision of a closure which is reuseableand can be adapted to fit nearly all standard containers having either ascrew, bayonet-type or interrupted thread neck.

An additional object of the invention herein disclosed is to provide aclosure device that can be used on either liquid or dry materialcontainers interchangeably.

Further objects are the provision of a cap-type bottle 3,12%,318Patented Feb. 4, 1964 closure that is compact, rugged, foolproof,versatile and decorative in appearance.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outspecifically herein in connection with the description of the drawingsthat follows, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical diametrical section, portions of which have beenbroken away to conserve space, showing the locking closure of thepresent invention attached in place on the threaded neck of a bottle;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the entire cap assembly, portions of theentire cap having been broken away and shown in section to reveal thelocation of the locking P FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the inner capshowing the rotatable ring supported on the radial flange thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view similar to FIGURE 3 except that the ring hasbeen rotated into the position where the slot in the radial flange ofthe inner cap is uncovered, portions of the ring having been broken awayto expose the ratchet-cut surface of the flange;

'FEGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the severalelements of the assembly in disconnected relation;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIGURE 5 exceptthat the elements of the assembly have been rotated into theirinterlocked positions; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the ring alone.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the presentinvention and initially to FIGURE 1 for this purpose, the cap assemblywhich has been designated in a general way by reference numeral 10 willbe seen to comprise an outer cap 12, an inner cap 14, a locking pin 16and a split ring 18. The inner cap 14- has a cylindrical recess 20therein adapted to accept the neck 22 of a bottle or like container 24.As has already been mentioned, the bottle 24 may contain either liquidsor solids and may be of standard design. The only criteria insofar asthe bottle is concerned is that its neck 22 be designed to receive sometype of closure which releasably locks into place by being rotatedrather than some friction type closure. While the neck 22 of the bottleas shown herein has been provided with a screw thread 26 as has theinside surface of the inner ca it is to be understood that this ismerely illustrative of one type that can be used. For example,interrupted threads and bayonet connections are also widely used forreleasably locking a closure to the neck of a container and both of thelatter, which form no part of the invention, could be substituted forthe screw thread shown because they all require that the cap be rotatedrelative to the neck of the container to tighten and release same. Thus,the inside of the inner cap 14 is entirely conventional.

By referring to FIGURES 1 and 4, it will be seen that the outside of theinner cap 14 is quite distinctive for it includes an outwardly extendingradial flange 28 that is formed integral with the annular skirt formingportion 60 that encircles the neck of the bottle. This flange isprovided with a single pin-receiving notch 32 in its periphery, thesignificant function of which will be outlined presently. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the uppersurface of radial flange 28 is provided with a circular series ofratchet-forming teeth 34. The top 3-6 of the inner cap 14 is providedwith suitable indicia 38 visible through the transparent window 40 inthe top of the outer cap and which locates the position of notch 32 inthe periphery of the radial flange, the latter being hidden from Viewthrough said window by the rest of the outer cap.

All of the figures of the drawing with the exception of FIGURE 2. showthe ring 18 which rests on the step-cut upper surface of radial flange28 of the inner cap. Ring 18 is broken at 42 and is, therefore, of thenon-continuous r so-called split type. The width of the opening 42 inthe ring is preferably somewhat wider than that of notch 32 in flange 28as shown most clearly in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6.

One of the terminal ends 44 of the ring is bent downwardly forming apawl adapted to engage the step-cut teeth 34 of the ratchet surfaceformed on the radial flange 28. Thus, ring 13 can only turn onedirection on the flange of the inner cap, namely, counterclockwise asviewed from above in FIGURES 3 and 4. The other terminal end of the ringis beveled to a feathered edge 48 that leads onto an upwardly inclinedramp-like portion 50. This ramp-forming portion 50 terminates at itsuppermost extremity which lies spaced circumferentially from thefeathered edge 48 in a step 52 that defines a stop or abutment for thelocking pin as will be explained shortly.

The construction of the outer cap '12 can best be seen in FIGURES 1, 2,and 6 to which reference will now be made. The transparent window 43comprises the top of the outer cap while a circumferential skirt portion54 surrounds the edge of the latter and cooperates therewith to define agenerally cylindrical recess or socket 56 (FIG- URE 1) adapted toloosely receive the inner cap 14. This skirt is preferably fabricatedfrom an opaque material and extends downwardly to the lower margin ofthe inner cap thereby completely covering the latter and preventing itfrom being grasped by the user in a way that it could be removed fromthe neck of the bottle. In other words, the outer cap turns freely onthe inner cap and, in the absence of an operative connectiontherebetween, there is no way of turning the inner cap one way or theother.

The inside surface of the outer cap has a step 58 formed therein adaptedto receive the radial flange 28 of the inner cap along with ring 18 whenthe latter is resting on the former. A continuous ring 69 preferablyformed of the same material as the skirt 54 of the outer cap ispermanently fastened inside the latter around the lower edge thereof inspaced relation below the step so that it cooperates therewith to definea radially-extending annular groove 62 which receives both the radialflange of the inner cap and split ring 1-8 permanently holding theseelements together in assembled relation.

The opposed faces of the continuous ring 60 and the step 58 of the outercap are provided with verticallyaligned and vertically-extending pinsockets 64- and 66 which loosely receive locking pin 16 for movementbetween the retracted or unlocked position of FIGURE 5 and the extendedor locked position of FIGURE 6. The depth of pin socket 64 in theskirt-forming portion 54- of the outer cap is substantially equivalentto the length of the locking pin 16 and the length of the latter elementis sufficient to bridge the annular groove 62 while the opposite endportions remain within both pin sockets 64 and 66 as shown in FIGURE 6.

Before setting forth the manner in which the device operates, it wouldbe well to mention how it is assembled. The outer cap is inverted andthe locking pin 16 dropped into place in pin socket 64 in step 58 of thecircumferential skirt 54. Next, the split ring 18 is laid upper facedown on the step 58. The inner cap is then inverted and dropped intoplace within recess 56 in the outer cap. Finally, continuous ring 60 isinserted nto the outer cap, rotated until pin socket 66 is aligned withpin socket 64 and connected permanently into place completing the assembly.

Now, the normal or random position of the assembly is that shown inFIGURE 3 where the split ring 1% occupies a rotational position where itcovers the notch 32 in the edge of the radial flange 28 of the innercap. The locking pin 16 drops down out of socket 64- in the skirt of theouter cap and rests on top of the split ring as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5in all rotational positions except when it is placed in register withthe gap 42 of the split ring whereupon it drops down further onto thestep-cup surface of the radial flange on the inner cap but still remainsineffective to lock the inner and outer caps together forcounterclockwise rotation because it is not in register with notch 32 insaid flange. In other words, with the split ring 18 so located that itcovers the notch 42, in the radial flange 28, the outer cap togetherwith the pin 16 and continuous ring can be rotated freely in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 relative to both the innercap and split ring. Note that as a practical matter it is only possibleto rotate the outer cap clockwise a maximum of slightly less than onecomplete revolution before pin 16 drops through the gap 42 onto thesplit ring and engages one of the ratchet teeth 34 of the radial flange,whereupon, the inner and outer caps will be locked together insofar ascontinued clockwise rotation is concerned carrying the split ring alongwith them. When the cap assembly is screwed tightly on the neck of thebottle and cannot, therefore, be turned any farther clockwise, the outercap will merely stop whenever the pin drops into position engaging oneof the ratchet teeth as outlined above. Ordinarily one would think thatthis relationship would be useful in screwing the closure onto thebottle; however, this is not the case because before the cap can beremoved, the several elements of the assembly must occupy theinterlocked relationship shown in FIGURE 6 and in nearly every instancethey Will remain this way until the cap is again screwed onto the bottlewhere the same interlocked relationship is employed.

Assuming, therefore, that the split ring is located as shown in FIGURE 3with the gap 42 thereof out of alignment with the notch 32 and radialflange 28, the outer cap must first be turned counterclockwise until thepin 16 engages the stop 52 at the end of said ring. Once thisrelationship exists, continued counterclockwise rotation of the outercap will cause the latter element and the split ring to turn as a unitrelative to the inner cap. Perhaps it should be mentioned that if thepin is, in fact, resting on the step-cut surface of the radial flangerather than the surface of the split ring when counterclockwise rotationof the outer cap is commenced, the pin 16 will merely ride up theinclined face of the tooth and the adjoining inclined face of thedownwardly turned end 44 of the split ring until it rests on top of thelatter and can continue on around to stop 52.

The outer cap, pin and split ring are turned counterclockwise as a unituntil index mark 63 (FIGURE 2) on the transparent window 40 is locatedopposite the number or other indicia 38 on the inner cap that signifiesto the user that the gap 42 in the split ring is in registry with thenotch 32 in the radial flange 28, this position being the one shown inFIGURES 4, 5 and 6. The relative positions of the split ring and radialflange are not, of course, visible to the user through the opaque skirt54 of the outer cap which hides these elements and it is necessary thatthis information or combination be supplied at the time of purchase, orperhaps, carried on the bottle label in coded form. As illustrated, whenthe index arrow lies opposite the numeral 2 on the scale 33, gap 42 andnotch 32 are in registry with one another.

Having once attained the relationship shown in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6, theouter cap is then turned clockwise nearly one full turn until the pinsockets 64 and 66 of the outer cap are likewise aligned with the gap 42and notch 32; whereupon, the pin 16 drops through the gap and slot intorecess 66 thereby completing the operative connection between all of theelements of the assembly that has been shown in FIGURE 6. Finally, bygripping the outer cap and again rotating it counterclockwise, the innercap unscrews from the threaded neck of the bottle. Once the desiredcontents of the bottle have been removed, the cap assembly is returnedto the bottle and screwed on while the elements occupy this sameinterlocked relationship.

The last, but equally important step in the procedure is to return theelements to their disengaged or inoperative positions. This isaccomplished by turning the bottle and attached closure upside downallowing the pin to retract from recess 66 in the continuous ring aswell as the gap and notch. With the device still inverted, the outer capcan be turned in either direction to take the pin out of registry withthe gap and notch. Then, by turning the bottle right-side-up once moreand rotating the outer cap counterclockwise until the pin engages thestop 52 and moves the split ring around relative to the radial flange toa diiferent relative position, the original unlocked safe condition isagain achieved.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of thepresent invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, it willbe apparent that the many worthwhile objectives for which it wasdesigned have been achieved. Although but a single specific embodimentof the closure assembly has been illustrated and described, I realizethat certain changes and modifications therein may well occur to thoseskilled in the art Within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is myintention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limitedonly insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable closure for bottles and the like which comprises, aninner generally cup-shaped cap rotatable between open and closedpositions, said inner cap having an outwardly extending radial flangeprojecting therefrom spaced downwardly from the top, said flange havinga notch in the periphery thereof, a split ring mounted on the flange ofthe inner cap for relative rotational movement into position whereby thegap between the ends of said ring and notch in said flange are inregistry with one another, means comprising a stop on the upper surfaceof the split ring, an outer generally cup-shaped cap adapted to fit overthe inner cap and remain freely rotatable relative thereto, said outercap including an annular groove located intermediate the top and bottomedge thereof positioned and adapted to receive the radial flange of theinner cap and the split ring, said cap also including avertically-extending pin recess intersecting said annular groove andpositioned in the path of the stop carried by the split ring, and alocking pin mounted within the pin recess in the outer cap for movementbetween an extended position passing through the gap in the split ringalong with the notch in the radial flange when the latter are alignedand a retracted position supported on top of said split ring, said pinin retracted position cooperating with said stop to move the gap in thesplit ring into registry with the notch in the annular flange uponrotation of the outer cap in one direction, and said pin cooperatingwith said notch and gap to interlock the inner and outer caps togetherupon rotation of said outer cap in the opposite direction until said pindrops into extended position.

2. The closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the top of the outer capis provided with a transparent windowforming portion and the top of theinner cap includes indicia cooperating with the window in the outer capand visible through the latter indicating the registered position of thenotch in the radial flange and the gap in the split ring.

3. The closure as set forth in claim 1 in which one of the adjacentcontacting surfaces of the split ring and radial flange is provided witha series of ratchet-forming teeth while the other of said surfacescarries a detent-forming projection, said teeth and detent cooperatingwith one another to permit said split ring to be rotated relative tosaid annular flange in only one direction, said direction being that inwhich said ring is turned by the outer cap to place the gap in registrywith the notch.

4. The closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner surface of theouter cap includes an annular cylinder enlargement adjacent the loweredge thereof, and means comprising a continuous ring is attachedpermanently in place within said annular enlargement in said outer capcooperating therewith to define the annular groove, said ring includinga vertically-extending pin recess vertically aligned with said pinrecess in the outer cap.

5. The closure as set forth in claim 2 in which an index is provided onthe window-forming portion of the outer cap, said index overlying theindicia on the top of the inner cap forming means adapted to indicate tothe user the registered position of the gap and notch.

6. The closure as set forth in claim 3 in which the ratchet teeth arecarried by the upper surface of the radial flange and the detent-formingprojection is carried by the split ring.

7. The closure as set forth in claim 6 in which the detent-formingportion of the split ring comprises a downturned end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,381,207 Coleman Aug. 7, 1945 2,722,328 Bell Nov. 1, 1955 2,847,139Christiansson et a1 Aug. 12, 1958 3,019,931 Thorton Feb. 6, 1962

1. A DETACHABLE CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES, ANINNER GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED CAP ROTATABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSEDPOSITIONS, SAID INNER CAP HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING RADIAL FLANGEPROJECTING THEREFROM SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP, SAID FLANGE HAVINGA NOTCH IN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, A SPLIT RING MOUNTED ON THE FLANGE OFTHE INNER CAP FOR RELATIVE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT INTO POSITION WHEREBY THEGAP BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID RING AND NOTCH IN SAID FLANGE ARE INREGISTRY WITH ONE ANOTHER, MEANS COMPRISING A STOP ON THE UPPER SURFACEOF THE SPLIT RING, AN OUTER GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED CAP ADAPTED TO FIT OVERTHE INNER CAP AND REMAIN FREELY ROTATABLE RELATIVE THERETO, SAID OUTERCAP INCLUDING AN ANNULAR GROOVE LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE TOP AND BOTTOMEDGE THEREOF POSITIONED AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RADIAL FLANGE OF THEINNER CAP AND THE SPLIT RING, SAID CAP ALSO INCLUDING AVERTICALLY-EXTENDING PIN RECESS INTERSECTING SAID ANNULAR GROOVE ANDPOSITIONED IN THE PATH OF THE STOP CARRIED BY THE SPLIT RING, AND ALOCKING PIN MOUNTED WITHIN THE PIN RECESS IN THE OUTER CAP FOR MOVEMENTBETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION PASSING THROUGH THE GAP IN THE SPLIT RINGALONG WITH THE NOTCH IN THE RADIAL FLANGE WHEN THE LATTER ARE ALIGNEDAND A RETRACTED POSITION SUPPORTED ON TOP OF SAID SPLIT RING, SAID PININ RETRACTED POSITION COOPERATING WITH SAID STOP TO MOVE THE GAP IN THESPLIT RING INTO REGISTRY WITH THE NOTCH IN THE ANNULAR FLANGE UPONROTATION OF THE OUTER CAP IN ONE DIRECTION, AND SAID PIN COOPERATINGWITH SAID NOTCH AND GAP TO INTERLOCK THE INNER AND OUTER CAPS TOGETHERUPON ROTATION OF SAID OUTER CAP IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION UNTIL SAID PINDROPS INTO EXTENDED POSITION.